Recap: SIU Edwardsville vs. Loyola-Chicago

Portland, OR (SportsNetwork.com) - Christian Thomas, Jeff White and Matt O'Leary each scored 14 points as the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers squeezed by the SIU Edwardsville Cougars, 73-72, on the final day of the Portland State Tournament at the Stott Center.

Nick Osborne added 10 points for Loyola (4-3), and while Milton Doyle went scoreless, he handed out seven assists.

For SIUE (1-5), Donivine Stewart led all scorers with 22 points on 8-of-13 from the field, including 4-of-5 from 3-point range. Michael Messer came off the bench to net 14 points in the losing effort.

After a back-and-forth first half, SIUE took a 35-33 lead into intermission after shooting 12-of-26 from the floor and 7-of-9 from the free-throw line in the opening 20 minutes.

The teams exchanged a few more leads in the second half. SIUE went ahead by one, 70-69, with 2:08 left in the game, but Loyola responded on its next possession when Thomas drilled a jumper. SIUE had two opportunities to take the lead in the final seven seconds but both Stewart and Christian Salecich missed shots, as the Ramblers held on for the win.

The game consisted of 12 ties and nine lead changes, with neither side ever leading by more than seven.